Page 86 of The Riders’ Reign

“Hey!” she protests. “You don’t need to be mean, Rook. I was only trying to be nice, and that’s a dick move.”

“I don’t know why you’re interested in me, anyway, Charmaine. I’m a nobody. I’ll probably never be a fully patched in member of the Riders, and so I’ll never be able to make you my ol’ lady—not that I would. Like I said, I’m in love with Camile.”

“You’ll get patched in one day. And when you do, you’ll realize that sharing sloppy seconds is no fun. You just think it makes you important to share the girl the higher-ups are passing around, but it doesn’t. One day, you’ll want an ol’ lady, mark my words, and I won’t be it.”

I snort. “I really won’t be asking.”

I ought to just shut the fuck up, as the last thing I want to do is get into things with Charmaine, but I’m saved by the door dividing the clubhouse from the corridor that leads to Jack’s office swinging open. The higher-ranking club members pour out, including Ghost and Ace. Ace gives me a wink, and Ghost pats me on the shoulder. I scowl at them both.

Charmaine has spotted one of the other club members she can flirt with, so at least I’m off the hook for now.

Most of the other guys have either left or are distracted by getting a drink, so when Jack walks out last, I can grab his attention. I have to admit, the prez still intimidates the fuck out of me. He’s like twenty years older, and has about fifty pounds of muscle on me, but I’ve also seen him at his most vulnerable. I feel like we’re able to communicate in a way we couldn’t before, and I have something important to say. It’s not even about me and my own woes. No, it’s about Camile.

“Jack,” I say as I approach him, “can I have a word?”

“Sure. What’s up, Rook?”

“We need to make it official,” I tell him. I don’t even care if he thinks I’m speaking out of turn. “The rest of the club needs to know what Camile means to us, that we’re serious about her. We can’t have everyone talking about her like she’s some kind of slut we’re just passing around.”

His stormy gray-blue eyes turn thunderous. “Who’s been saying she’s a slut?”

“No one, not directly.” I’m not that much of an asshole to drop Charmaine in it. “But come on, I bet it’s what people are thinking. Everyone needs to know that this is a relationship, unconventional, yes, but no different than anyone else’s.” I soften my tone. “And maybe Cami needs to know that, too, for sure. There can’t be any doubts left in anyone’s heads that we’re not all one hundred percent serious about her.”

Jack chews on the inside of his lip, and I wonder if he’s going to lose his shit at me for speaking to him like this, but instead he nods.

“Yeah, you’re right, on all counts.” He sighs and rakes his hand through his hair. “Let me talk to the others. We’ll come up with a plan.”

“Sure.”

“And Rook,” he says.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for bringing this to my attention. You’re right, it is important. I assume you’re going to be at the party later?”

I shrug. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

I’m not sure I’m really in the mood to party, but perhaps that’s what I need—to drink and chill out for a while. Also, Camile will be there, and I’m not going to give up an opportunity to hang out with her.

39

JACK

The party is in full swing.

As tends to be the case with these events, no one is holding back. The beer is flowing easily, and I pick up on the sweet tang of weed on the air. Old eighties rock music blasts from a speaker, but it’s drowned out by the laughter and voices.

I’m holding back from the booze. It wouldn’t be a good idea to drink while I’m still on pain meds. Besides, I’ve got something important I need to do this evening, and I want my head on straight.

I called Church earlier with a question to ask, and the answer to that question was unanimous. Rook is to be patched in as a full member of the club. Maybe he’s made some bad choices along the way, but he proved himself with the part he played in rescuing Ghost while I was in the hospital.

My cell buzzes in my pocket, and I check it. I notice a number of other people doing the same. There’s a blue alert on my phone. Looks like there’s been a riot and several escaped prisoners from Verona Falls Prison.

Well, shit. At least that’ll keep the local cops busy this evening. They won’t be bothering us, no matter how loud and raucous this party gets, and sometimes they do get out of control, especially when we have something to celebrate.

I spot Rook over with Camile. He has his hand around her waist, and she’s smiling up at him. She looks happy, and my heart swells for her. I hope soon we’ll have an exact date as to when the rest of her family can be brought to America, where they’ll be safe, then she can fully relax. I have no idea what her mother and brother will make of her becoming part of a biker club, or being with four men, especially with me being so much older, but they’re going to have to deal with it. Hopefully, the fact we’ve taken out Hector Sanchez will go a long way to making things right with them. If not, tough shit. We won’t give her up for anything or anyone. So they will just have to disapprove from the sidelines.

There’s a small platform to one side of the open-air bar, which we use when we have live bands come and play, and it’s where I head now. I climb up, mindful of my injuries which still tweak with pain at any sudden movement. The crowd notices me, and, because I’m the president and they respect the hell out of me, I don’t even need to shout at them to be quiet. Someone shuts off the music, and a hush falls over the crowd.